THE DOWNLOAD MONEY MATTERS
upgrade will be highest on an early morning or red-eye flight that departs on a Tuesday or Wednesday.” Similarly, the time of year also
plays a big factor. It’ll be much easier to get an upgrade in January and February than in June or July.
3
STAY CLOSE TO THE GATE PRIOR TO BOARDING
It’s common for upgrades to
get announced at the gate, but it’s not at random or for people who politely ask. “Instead, it’s the gate agent going
off the prescribed upgrade list and asking the lucky recipients to come retrieve their new ticket,” says Keyes. “If an airline agent is processing
upgrades and calls your name to come get a new ticket but you’re off at the food court, they’ll end up giving your seat away to another passenger.”
4
HOPE FOR AN OVERSELL SITUATION, THEN NEGOTIATE
Normally, asking for an upgrade won’t yield your intended result, but there is a situation when asking for an upgrade can sometimes work: overselling. If an airline has oversold a flight
and needs volunteers to take a later flight, they’ll only explicitly mention compensation of flight credit. “But like In-N-Out, there’s a
secret menu,” says Keyes. “If the airline is really in a pinch and few are volunteering, you’ve got a lot of leverage to negotiate for additional items like lounge passes, meal credit, and most importantly, a free upgrade on your replacement flight. “There’s no guarantee, of
course, but if you don’t ask, you won’t receive it.”
points is a great way to save money but a terrible play if you’re
5
DON’T BOOK WITH MILES OR POINTS
Booking with miles or
A decade ago, Delta sold less than 20% of their first- class seats. Today, they sell nearly 90% of them.”
— Scott Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at travel deals site
Going.com
hoping for an upgrade. “Airlines almost never give
free upgrades to passengers who paid for their flight with points, so using cash at the outset is a must if you’re hoping for an upgrade,” says Keyes.
ONE MORE WAY While it may seem like airlines have gotten worse at a lot of things — like fees, service, and comfort — they have gotten far better at selling premium seats. “A decade ago, Delta sold
less than 20% of their first-class seats,” says Keyes. “Today, they sell nearly 90% of them. That means far less opportunity to get upgraded today.” The silver lining, however, is
that airlines have gotten better at selling those first-class seats by discounting the price in many cases, especially for people paying cash to upgrade post-booking. “I’ve seen upgrades sell for
as little as $50 on some short routes and $200 on long-haul routes — prices that would’ve been unthinkable a decade ago,” he says. So, while free upgrades have
gotten significantly more rare, cheap upgrades have gotten far more prevalent. Take advantage when you can.
MEDICARE SURCHARGES If you’re on Medicare Part B and/or
Part D, you’re familiar with the income- related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). It is the surcharge you pay if your gross income exceeds a certain amount. The latest IRMAA figures from May, adjusted for inflation, require single filers with income over $106,000 and joint filers with income over $212,000 to pay surcharges. You can avoid the IRMAA surcharge by being mindful of spikes in your earnings, such as a Roth conversion or selling your house. These events should be planned carefully with a tax adviser. Also, note that IRMAA is based on your income from two years ago, so the premiums you pay in 2025 are based on your 2023 tax return.
HIDDEN FEES A new FTC rule protects consumers
against hidden fees for live ticket events, hotels, and short-term rentals. The rule’s purpose is to nix bait-and- switch pricing, where you think the ticket or hotel room costs a certain amount, but by the time you swipe your credit card you’re paying much more.
MEMORY LOSSES If you typically memorize your banking card or credit card number because it’s easier to check out online . . . forget it! A new survey by insurance company Western & Southern found that 20% of shoppers who know their card numbers spend $500 per month more online compared to 13% of those who don’t. They also tend to carry more debt than non-memorizers.
UPPER CLASS A GoBankingRates analysis of
2023 Census data calculated how much households need to earn to be considered upper middle class in each state. In California, it ranges from $149,853 to $192,668, whereas in a rural state like Arkansas, it’s $91,425 and $117,546. Maryland was at the top of the list, with incomes ranging between $158,125 and $203,304. Mississippi came in the lowest, at $85,423 and $109,830.
AUGUST 2025 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 77
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